Clock-movement pillar



Jan. 3, 1928. 1,655,012

' I H. COLOMB CLOCK MOVEMENT PILLAR Filea'Aumze. 1924 Fig.5

y yM fi ad 7 Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

BUNITED. STATES 1 1,655,012 PATENT OFFICE.

HENRI COLOMB, OF TAVANNES, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR '10 TAVANNES WATCH(10.,

I A., OF TAVANNES, SWITZERLAND.

CLOCK-MOVEMENT PILLAR.

Application filed August 26, 1924, Serial No. 734,311, and inSwitzerland September 11, 1923.

In pillar clock movements, that is to say those of which the bridges areattached to the plate by means of pillars, the same are generallyassembled on the plate by rivetting at one of their ends and the otherend which forms thebase for the bridge is generally shouldered either bymeans of a milling cutter or by pin insertion. By means of a cutter, theend fittings of the pillars for the bridges can be formed in variousways; the most usual are the following:

(1) The pillars in place on the plate are pointed or straightened(rectified) by a single blow and are then pierced; the end fittings arethen relieved by the cutter one after the other, using the holepreviously made in the pillars as the guide-base.

(2) A number of fittings on the pillars are milled simultaneously bymeans of one and the same machine with a plurality of cutting shafts(maximum three). Such machines are naturally troublesome in practice forthey can only be used each time for a determined watch size. Formovements having 5, 6 or 7 pillars it is therefore necessary to have atleast two of such machines for performing the operation in question; buteach machine obviously introduces a possibility of error. Indeed, as theplates of these movements are, for reasons of economy, generally thinand due to this are far from being flat, it arrives in spite of theprecautions taken when fixing them on the above mentioned machines, thatthe plates are bent and the pillars therefore take up oblique positions;it can be understood therefore that under these circumstances the pillarfittings for the bridges cannot be exact. Furthermore, even if thecutters used for this type of operation be capable of regulation, it isimpossible to obtain a great degree of accuracy in the diameter of theend fittings thus formed, it is the same as regards the length of thepillars. The same inconveniences are found as to accuracy when using thecostly method of pin insertion.

The object of the present invention consists in a clock movement pillarof which at least one end fitting, that receiving the bridge, isrecessed at its base and has formed on its periphery oneor more fiatsides so as to avoid in the operation of rectification the ring orcollar which is always formed when a cylindrical end fitting isrectified fitting d relieved by recessing at cl and,

provided with one or more flat sides on its periphery and designed toreceive the corresponding bridge, the end fitting'cl being provided withtwo fiat sides according to Figures 1 and 1, or with six flat sidesaccording to Figures 2 and 2, or with eight flat sides according toFigures 3 and 3,

or with a single fiat side according to Figure 4, the number of theseflat sides on the periphery of the end fitting d'being variable asdesired.

The flat side or sides on the end fitting of the pillars can be made bymeans of a cutter, but preferably they are made by punching. The pillarsrelieved at the neck by recessing at the base of the end fittings arerivetted or driven with their pivots 6 into the corresponding holes ofthe plate, and then their other ends or fittings d can be rectified orpositioned by means of a rectifying matrix driven over the flattenedfittings 01, so that the pillars are correctly positioned according tothe'watch caliber and for receiving the corresponding bridges.

Owing to the recess 03 there is not formed any collar at the base of thefittings (Z when said matrix is driven thereover and further, when thesame is retracted from the fittings d, the flat sides on the latterreducing the peripheral extension of the gripping surface in the matrixfacilitate the removal thereof from the fittings (Z so as to reduce thepulling onto the pillars which would be injurious to their fastening inthe plate.

What I claim is:

A device adapted for fixing bridges and the like, in clock movements,comprising a pillar including a cylindrical main body havingacylindrical end portion adapted to be inserted into a plate, and anopposite end portion adaptedfor receiving a bridge, including a part ofsmaller diameter than the main body forming a shoulder With said body,this latter end portion having a peripheral recess adjacent the junctureof the part of reduced diameter with said body for preventing theformation of a metal ridge at the base of said part of smaller diameterwhen a rectifying matrix is forced down upon said part, and said part ofsmaller diameter having a top part adapted to fit a. bridge and formedwith a flattened side 10 face for shortening the peripheral line ofcontact between said top part and matrix when engaged by the latter forpermitting easy removal of the matrix.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed 15

